Monday, October 06, 2008

Home again

Back from California. Whew! I didn't bring the camera, but here is a photo of Emily with one of the aforementioned tarantulas that she is clearly not afraid of. I've got a new nickname for her: because of the snake brain thing in the last post, it's Dr. Death. One of her grad students caught 8 rattlesnakes this weekend and the poor things were all bound for the lab to have their brains removed. Not that I have a great love in my heart for venomous snakes, but it just seemed a little depressing to me that these 8 snakes, going about their day, were suddenly about to lose their brains. I know it's for science, and it's really interesting research they're doing, but kind of sad anyway. Can't help but think what Magpie Windwitch would think! Heartless mannies!

Anyway, gorgeous weekend in California while it rained here in Oregon. Did a little wine tasting in Paso Robles, cruised over to Morro Bay for the Harbor Festival where my mom and sister and I got Obama temporary tattoos on our cheeks. Ate some saltwater taffy, of course. I can't go to the beach without getting taffy! I read another Cybils nominee on the plane home, but wasn't wild enough about it to write about it here.

I'm not a book reviewer. I've realized what I am is a book recommender. I think it was Sarah Stevenson who made that distinction at the blog conference. Totally me. I only want to mention a book if I loved it; I'm not comfortable being critical or even "meh" about another author's very hard work. So, I'm on to the next one! That, and I have a lot of my own work to do, like get the last few details of Silksinger sorted out and sent back to my editor, not to mention phone-banking tonight (hoping not to have any repeats of last week), plus my mother-in-law is coming to visit in a few days, my roots need to be empinked, and I'm giving a presentation at the Oregon/Washington joint school librarian's conference on Friday. Totally looking forward to that: I [heart] librarians! Oh yeah, and I have a new line of Laini's Ladies to design, and there's the new book that won't write itself. Sigh. Can someone please freeze time?

Please?

Oh, from Emily, another cool/icky photo, depending on your personal interests. A scorpion giving its babies a ride:

8 comments:

elizabeth said...

although I wouldn't cuddle up to that scorpion, I think she's very cool! Cute even, if you think about the conversations that may be going on: "are we there yet" in tiny singsong by 30 voices.....

Q said...

I think I'm a book recommender, too!

If you freeze time, do tell me so I remember to get things done while time is frozen.

Anonymous said...

That photo is BEYOND cool. Hard to believe that's Emily!!

Diandra Mae said...

Sounds like you had a great weekend! :) And the scorpion photo?

See now, here's where I think, "Oh, that's gross." (Probably due to a bad experience with the suckers at scout camp.) ick.

Lexi said...

Yay scorpions! So so cute!
It sounds like you had fun in California, and the temporary tattoos MUST have been a highlight. Tattoos are the best.

Lisa Schroeder said...

I love that term - book recommender. Me too! There are some people who do the book review thing well, but not me. If I love a book, I want to tell you about it, but I also know if something isn't my cup of tea, it really doesn't mean diddly, so I keep it to myself.

Which, BTW, Laini, I know you like lots of description and details in your books and novels in verse aren't your thing, and please know you never have to pretend you want to read my books or anything like that. It's okay! I totally understand. You write and love the kinds of books I wish I could write! And maybe someday I will. But for now, the poetic and somewhat minimalist way seems to be my calling. :)

I'll be at the librarian thing on Saturday with Liz Gallagher doing a presentation, so probably won't see you, but have fun and good luck!!

Anonymous said...

snakeymama's a bonafide rockstar!
TWO laini posts. ;)

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

so wierd - I have a picture very similar to this. Used this exact concept in my fairy book (which is now shelved - unfortunately not on the shelves of B&N). Shelli http://www.faeriality.blogspot.com/